Email from Microsoft

Rebelius

Rebelius

Rebelius

Soldato
Joined
14 Dec 2003
Posts
3,145
Location
Edinburgh
I just got an email from microsoft which includes some "Tips, tricks, and how-to's"

the first is about how to track down background programs and the first step is to

"1. Press CTRL and ALT and DEL together, then click Task Manager on the menu that appears. This will bring up the window that shows you everything currently running on your PC."

do the people at MS not know about ctrl, shift, esc?
 
Um, I've never used Ctrl shift escape. Is it a shortcut directly to running processes? Can't check as running Solaris at work :p
 
Well, for the new user who knows nothing about computers or Windows for that matter, it's a good tip actually.
 
FoxEye said:
Um, I've never used Ctrl shift escape. Is it a shortcut directly to running processes? Can't check as running Solaris at work :p
Click to expand...

Does exacly the same as CTRL + DEL + DEL.
 
Ice On Fire said:
Well, for the new user who knows nothing about computers or Windows for that matter, it's a good tip actually.
Click to expand...

but why tell people to use CTRL ALT DEL then hit open task manager, when they could just tell people the shortcut to task manager ie CTRL SHIFT ESC or right click taskbar and hit task manager.
 
Rebelius said:
but why tell people to use CTRL ALT DEL then hit open task manager, when they could just tell people the shortcut to task manager ie CTRL SHIFT ESC or right click taskbar and hit task manager.
Click to expand...
Is there a technical difference between CTL ALT DEL and CTL SH ESC? Something along the lines of only windows can intercept and respond to ctl alt del signal... That's what it says at login, anyhow :p
 
Rebelius said:
but why tell people to use CTRL ALT DEL then hit open task manager, when they could just tell people the shortcut to task manager ie CTRL SHIFT ESC or right click taskbar and hit task manager.
Click to expand...

Because the CTRL SHIFT ESC is part of the "not so very well documented" XP shortcuts, mainly intended for system admins and techies, I think, and not intended for the full public to use.
 
in vista CTRL ALT DEL takes you to a menu for locking, switch user, log off, change user, task manager - CTRL SHIFT ESC just opens task manager. Think it's the same for XP on a domain - but I can't check just now. The email's about vista anyway.
 
For "ultra-obvious access", the right-click on the taskbar is probably the best option. On the other hand, it's harder to describe (a novice user might ask "what's the task bar?")

As far as choosing one way to describe rather than the other, I'm not sure there's any right answer. In favour of the Ctrl+Alt+Del, then click task manager option is the advantage that it gives a glimpse of what else you can do to someone who's not pressed Ctrl+Alt+Del before, plus you know for sure that you're looking at the real task manager rather than a spoofed version, because only Windows can respond to Ctrl+Alt+Del (though in practice I doubt anyone's actually made a fake Task Manager and set it up to open when you press Ctrl+Shift+Esc). At the end of the day I don't really think it's worth of criticism that whoever is responsible for compiling a "hints and tips" email chose one method rather than any other.
 
"The power button enables you to power-on, and power-off the computer. Microsoft Windows also has the ability to be restarted in one single command; the reset button. However this feature is designed for more advanced users."
 
Vai said:
Always funny in multiplayer games when someone goes "Wow, press Alt+F4 and you get unlimited bullets" or similar and half the players disappear :D
Click to expand...

Not many people fall for that though anymore, but when CS Source first came out, the F10 key was binded by default for "Exit game."

You could literally halve a server by telling people that by pressing F10 they could sprint faster or something. :p
 
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